Work on the Mankulam hydroelectric project, claimed to cause the least environmental damage, is set to begin soon.
A senior official of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) who is in charge of the project told The Hindu that of the 252 hectares of land required for the project, over 65 per cent had already been acquired. No forestland came under the project area and there would be only minimum environmental damage, including loss of trees, he said.
The Mankulam project is to be set up across the Mankulam river, a tributary of the Pooyamkutty river. The official said the project was a split-up project of the Pooyamkutty hydroelectric project and was in line with the idea of going for more mini-hydel projects for boosting power generation.
The KSEB sources said the only sanction required from the Forest Department was a road to be constructed through the forest to the power house.
40 MW in first phase
In the first phase, the project is estimated to generate 40 MW of electricity with the addition of an equal output in the second phase as well.
The thinking is, since the Mankulam stream is perennial and is not in the forest area, the reservoir could also provide drinking water in addition to power generation.
